Automatic suction valve



vJuly 21, 1925. 1,546,998

` C. E. ROGERS origina1 Fild Jan. 18. 1923 1 v 1 Patented July El., i925,

Nuitestaras CURTIS n. noGnns, or LOGAN, wns'r VIRGINIAv Aerei/:Arie lsuc'rroiv VALVE.

Substitute for application Serial No. 613,463, filed January 18, 1923,

. 1828. Serial No. 668,783.

To all whom t may concern.' i

j Ie it known that I, Ciniris E. Roenes, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Logan, in the county vof Logan and State of Viest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auton'iatic Suction Valves, of which the following` is a specification.`

`This invention relates to multiple suction pumps, and particularly to means for closing the various suction connections upon the exhaustion of water in the corresponding basin or sump.

The invention is of general utility, but is particularly desirable in the case of excavations and coal mining operations, and hence for illustrative purposes will be described as applied to coal mining.

In nearly all mines, difliculty is encountered because of the seepage of .water into the workings, and the usual practice has been to provide each pump with a plurality of suction connections, and to control the individual suction connections by means of handoperated valves.4 VThis requires an attendant who goes continually from valve to valve opening and closing them in accordance with the conditions adjacent the'. various valves. This method involves an undue labor cost, and is unsatisfactory for the reason that it only approximates the desired result, and often involves the accumulation of water in sufcient quantity to hamper the mining operations.-

IIeretofoi-e a number of automatic devices have been proposed, but, so far as I am aware, they all involve the use of a float valve subject to the water level at respective suction inlets. Such devices, while theoretically operative, do not meet the practical requirements, chiefly because they must be located at the end of the suction pipe so as to be submerged in and be controlled byl the level of the water. Such valves are heavy and complicated, and they cannot readily be moved about to meet changing local conditions, so that the labor cost of using them is nearly as heavy as that in- `volved in the use of hand-operatedv valves. Furthermore, the suction inlets must usually be close to the breast where theV miners are working and, if the valve is located at this vATENT rr er..

This application nled ctober 15,

`The present invention provides a valve which is not subject -tothese objections because it may be loca-ted at points more or less remote from the suction inlet, so that the final suctionconnection' is merely a piece of flexible suction hose which may be read ily moved about to meet changing conditions. Consequently, the present invention meets the practical requirements of the inining industry.

The valve belongs generally to the dia-- phragm-operated automatic type, and `so contrived that, when the suction inlet is submerged .in water, the valve will automatically open and, when the suction inlet is opened to the atmosphere, the valve will automatically close and remain closed until the suction inlet is again submerged. In order to prevent the valve from hunting, i. e., opening and closing frequently when the suction inlet is barely submerged, I provvide, as an ancillary feature,.a delayed-action vent valve, which prevents the suction Vinlet valve from againopeningfor a definite and controlled time period after it has closed. A

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevation showing an electrically driven pump equipped with two of my suction valves, each controlling a corresponding suction inlet.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the suction inlet valve andthe diaphragm motor for actuating the same.

Fig. 3 is `a fragmentary view of the adjusting dial.

Referring first to Fig. l, the pump` cylinder is indicated at 6, the electric motor for driving the same at 7, and the gear train Vby which the motor` drives the pump at 8.

These parts are of anyusual construction. The electric drive isillustrated merely as typical of standard modern installations.

The suction. connection of thepump is illustrated at 9, and is shown as `provided with two brancheslO, 10, each ofwhich is equipped with one of my automa-tic control valves, indicatedgenerally at 11, l1.

Eachsuction branch 10 -is provided at its end with flexible suction hose l2, 12, whose end maybe placed in the corresponding basin or sump, indicated. generally ,at 13,

It will be observed that the valves 11, 11 are located between the hose connection 12 and the suction connection 9, and it is possible to locate them at points a considerable distance from the inlet end of the hose. The controlling limits on the positions of the valves 11 are that they must be a few inches above the highest level of water in the corresponding sump, and that the vertical height above suchilevel shall not exceed, or even quite equal, the barometric water column. lVithin these limits, they may be located at any convenient place between the suction inlet and the pump.

The valve body 11 is formed with an inlet connection 14, and outlet connection 15, and an intervening valve seat 16, which may be made removable, as shown. `With seat 16 co-acts a. valve 17, having a stem 18, which stem is guided in an elongated guide sleeve 19 formed integrally with valve body 11. V The valve 17 and stem 18 have an axial bore 2O extending from end to end and shouldered or reduced to form a valve seat 21 adjacent lateral ports 22. Above these ports 22 the stem 18 is threaded as shown at 23.

A diaphragm chamber made up of two conical shells 24 and 25 is bolted to the body 11 at 26 and surrounds the valve stem. A series oi'' ports 27 encircling guide 19 place the inlet connection 14 in communication with the lower side of such diaphragm chamber. An upward opening check valve 57 overlies these ports and prevents backlow therethrough. A flexible diaphragm 28 is clamped at its periphery between the shells 24 and 25 by means of bolts 29, and at its center is connected to the valve stem 18.

A conical bearer plate 30 underlies the diaphragm 28 and is supported by a nut 31 engaging threads 23. A washer 32 overlies the diaphragm 28 and is held by a cap nut 33 engaging the threads 23 and having lateral ports 34 which place the space above diaphragm 28 in communication with the axial passage 2O above valve seat 21. The upper shell 25 has a central aperture 35 which places the space above diaphragm 28 in communication with the atmosphere. A hinged grating 36 covers the apertures 35, but may be swung aside to give access to nut A spring 37 acting upward against bearer plate 30 constantly tends to close valve 17.

A port 38 connects the suction or inlet side of the valve with the bore 2O of valve stem 18. The port 38 is shown as leading from the space below diaphragm 28, as this is a convenient location and such space is in communication with the inlet through ports 27. Other locations on the suction or inlet side of valve 17 will be operatively equivalent. Port 38 is protected by screen 39, A

port 40 connects the discharge or outlet side of valve 17 with the bore 2O of stem 18 and like port 38, is protected by a strainer 41. A small flap check valve 42 prevents back tlow through this port.

A valve rod 43 ills the bore 2O and is longitudinally slidable therein. It is formed at its upper end with a conical valve member 44, which co-acts with seat 21, and is reduced at 45 so as to connect port 38 with port 40, when valve 44 is closed against seat 21. Thus the valve rod 43 functions to open and close a vent connection between the space below diaphragm 28 and the atmosphere and also to close and open a restricted or bleed connection past valve 17, which however is so controlled by valve 42 that back i-ow through the bleed connection is precluded. The opening of the bleed port slightly precedes the closing of the vent port and vice versa, but the interval is preferably made as small as possible, so that simultaneous action is approximated.

The valve member -43 is actuated in one direction by diaphragm 28 and in the opposite direction by a dash pot-c-ontrolled spring. The dash pot includes a cylinder 46 which screws into an opening in the bottom of valve body 11 so that the bore of cylinder 46 is coaxial with the stem 18 of valve 17. Cylinder 46 is closed by a head 47 having a stulfmg box 48 through which valve member 43 passes. rlhe member 43 carries within cylinder 46 a pist-on 49 of ordinary construction, having through ports controlled by upward-opening check valves 50 of the flap type. A port 51 connects the opposite ends of cylinder 46 and is controlled by a needle valve 52. The adjustment of this valve is indicated by pointer 53 fast to the valve which reads against a dial 54 on the body or' the dash-pot. A by-pass 56 allows the piston to move rapidly near its upward limit or' motion. The piston 49 is urged upward by a spring 55. The cylinder 46 is filled with a liquid of suitable character, preferably oil.

From the arrangement of the parts just described, it is apparent that valve member 43 may be moved rapidly downward, the liquid opening the valves 50 and passing through the piston. The upward movement under the action or' spring 55 is at a retarded rate determined by the adjustment of needle valve 52 which throttles the liquid flow nearly to the upper limit ot piston movement.

One operative cycle will now be described. Assume that pump 6 is operating constantly and drawing water from both sumps. Both valves 17 are then held open by atmospheric pressure acting on top or' their diaphragms 28 and overpowering their springs 37.

Under these conditions assume that the level of water in one sump 13 falls below the inlet end oi. itshose 12. This destroys the suction head in the inlet ofthe corresponding valve, atmospheric pressure is established beneath its diaphragm 28, and spring 37 closesy the valve. Member 48 is checked by piston 49, however, so that as valve 17 closes valve 44 leaves seat 21 and a direct connection-to atmosphere is estabw lished, hastening the closing of valve 17 and preventing the diaphragm 28 from again opening the valve 17 until valve 44 again seats.

The time duration of this period is fixed by adjusting valve 52 and is so chosen that, valve 17 cannot again open until a substantial rise of level in sump 13 shall ordinarily have occurred. ln the iinal rapid movement of valve 44 to its seat 21, the recess formed by the reduced portion 45 connects ports 38 and 40 thus transmitting the suction head et the pump at a restricted rate past valve 17. If the end of hose 12 is not submerged,

the resulting air flow through 38, 45, 40 willA have no effec-t other than a slight reduction in the pumps efficiency, but if the end of the hose be submerged (as will usually be the case after the liXed time interval) a suction head will be built up on the inlet side ol valve 17 and hence beneath diaphragm 28. As such suctionhead increases, atmospheric pressure on the upper side of diaphragm 28 will predominateand iorce diaphragm 28 downward. This starts valve 17 to open, and the rapid increase of suction head in the inlet side Vwhich immediately results, causes a rapid completion of the opening move-ment. The valve will then remain open until the level in sump 13 is lowered sufficiently to expose the inlet end of the hose.

In its broad aspects the invention comprises the use with a multiple suction pump of suction inlet controlling valves, which open in a substantial suction head and almost complete-ly close upon the destruction of that head. In its crudest form, such a device would include a valve, a. motor subject to suction head tending to `open the valve on establishment of a substantial suction head and close it at other times, and some restricted by-pass around the valve to permit the pump` suction to be propagated past the valve even when the valve is closed.

Such a simple embodiment is, however, im-` practical because it would tend to hunt, i. e., open and close at short intervals for slight rises and `falls of intake water level.

rlthe timed vent valve 44 overcomes this difficulty by imposing a deiinite time interval between the closing and the next succeeding opening movement of the valve.

hile the by-pass around valve 17 might be arranged to be constantly open without serious eiiect on the pump where only a few intakes are used, the cumulative effect Where many intakes are used is considerable. Hence, the control of the byfpass 38, 40 by recess 45 in timing valve member 43 is a val- `uable refinement. It closes the by-pass during those periods in which the vent valve 44 is open, and when the propagation of suction head past valve 17 consequently is useless.`

Il the valves 52 of the various suction inlets be properly adjusted, it is possible to attain a condition of the utmost e'liiciency. .If whenever each valve 44 seats, its sump contains a substantial quantity ot water, the

flows through bywpasses 38, 45, 40, will eontinue only long enough to establish the desired inlet suction heads, and no idle air low will occur. j j j The check valve 42 is to prevent back flow through the by-pass port when the pump G is shut down, as otherwise it might be neces-` sary t0 prime the pump in starting.

This application is filed as a substitute for, and as a partial continuation of my prior application, Serial 170.613,46, filed January 18, 1923.

ldhat I claim is:

Y 1. The combination of a pump having a plurality oi' suction connections; a plurality of valves controlling respective suction connections, each Vvalve including means constantly urging it closed; relatively small by-passes, one around each such valve, whereby the reduced pressure created by the suction of the pump is transmitted past the valves but at a restricted rate; and a motor .for each valve operated by the rise of a water column into the corresponding suction inlet as the result of the pressure reductien so transmitted and serving to open the corresponding valve against the opposition of said closiiigmeans.

`2. The combination of a pump having a plurality of suction connections; a plurality of valves controlling respective suction connections, each valve `including means constantly urging it closed; constricted bypasses, one around each such'valve, whereby the reduced pressure created by the suction of the pump is transmitted past the valves but at a restricted rate; a motor for each valve, including an abutment subject to atmospheric pressure on one side, and subject on the other side to the pressure on the inlet side of said valve; and connections be- .tween said motor and valve arranged to open the valve by the movement oi the motor when atmospheric pressure on said abutment predominates over inlet pressure.

3. An inlet-controlling device for multiple section pumps comprising inA combination 4a valve having a suction `inlet and an exit to the pump; a pressure motor operatively con- `nected to said valve, subject to fluid pressure in the inlet to said valve, and arranged to open said valve Vthrough the existence ci? sub-atmospheric pressure in said inlet, a

Cil

restricted connection between the suction inlet and exit to said valve; and means con stantly urging said valve closed.

et. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a main valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a pressure motor operatively connected to said valve, subject to iiuid pressure in the inlet to said valve7 and arranged to open said valve through the existence of sub-atmospheric pressure in said inlet; a restricted connection between thesuction inlet and exit to said valve; means constantly urging said valve closed; a vent valve arranged to admit air at atmospheric pressure to said suction inlet; yielding means urging said vent valve closed; and a mechanism constructed and arranged to be actuated by the closing movement of the lirst-named valve and when actuated serving to open said vent valve. j

5. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a main valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a pressure motor operatively connected to said valve, subject to fluid pressure in the inlet to said valve, and arranged to open said valve through the eX- istence ot sub-atmospheric pressure in said inlet; means urging said main valve closed; a restricted connection for permitting an air flow around said main valve; a vent connection :tor admitting air at atmospheric pressure to the suction inlet of said main valve; a secondary valve mechanism controllingsaid restricted connection and said vent connection, and arranged to close them in alternation; means urging said secondary valve mechanism in vent-closing direction; and means for shifting said secondary valve mechanism in vent-opening direction by the movement of the main valve from open to closed position.

G. An inlet-controlling device for multiple` suction pumps comprising in combination a main valve having aA suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a pressure motor operatively connected to said valve; subject to iluid pressure in the inlet to said valve and arranged to open said valve through the existence or' sub-atmospheric pressure in said inlet; means urging said main valve closed; a restricted connection for permitting an air flow around said main valve; a vent'connection for admitting air at atmospheric pressure to the suction inlet of said main valve; a secondary valvel mechanism controlling said restricted connection and said vent connection; and arranged to close them in alternation; means urging said secondary valve mechanism in vent-closing direction; means operated by the movement ot said main valve from ope-n to closed position arranged to shift said vent valve to vent-opening position and then release the same; and

a retarding device serving to delay the return of said vent valve to its vent-closing position.

7. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a motor operatively connected with said valve and including an abutment subject on one side to atmospheric pressure acting to open said valve; and subject on the other side to opposing pressure in the suction inlet; a connection between the suction inlet and the exit of said valve for permitting an air flow around the valve materially less than the entrance air ilow through the suction inlet occurring when the suction inlet is not submerged; and means constantly urging said valve closed.

8. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the. pump; a motor operatively connected with said valve and including an abutment subject on one side to atniospheric pressure acting to open said valve, and subject on the other side to opposing pressure in the suction inlet; a connection between the suction inlet and the exit of said valve for permitting an air flow around the valve materially less than the entrance air flow through the suction inlet occurring when the suction inlet is not submerged; means arranged to be put into action by the closing of said valve; and serving to close said connection for a definite period thereafter; and means constantly urging said valve closed.

9. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a diaphragm operatively connected with said valve and subject on one side to atmospheric pressure tending to open the valve and on the other side to pressure in the suction inlet; a restricted connection between t-he suction inlet and the exit oit said valve; and means constantly urging said valve closed.

10. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a diaphragm operatively connected with said valve and subject on one side to atmospheric pressure tending to open t-he valve and on the other side to pressure in the suction inlet; a restricted connection between the suction inlet and the exit of said valve; means arranged to be put into action by the closing of said valve, and serving to close said connection for a definite period thereafter; and means constantly urging said valve closed.

l1. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an enit to the pump; motor operatively conllt) nected with said valve and including an abutment subject on one side to atmospheric pressure acting to open said valve; and sub j ect on the other side to opposing pressure in the suction inlet; a connection between the suction inlet and the eXit ot said valve for permitting an air flow around the valve materially less than the entrance air flow through the suction inlet occurring when the suction inlet is not submerged; means constantly urging said valve closed; a vent valve serving to equalize the pressures on the opposite sides ot said abutment; means urging said vent valve closed; means actuated by the closingv movement oit the iirst-named valve; constructed and arranged to open said ent valve; and a retarding device serving to delay the closing movement ot said vont valve.

12. An inlet-controlling device tor multiple suction pumps comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an exit to the pump; a diaphragm operatively connected withsaid valve and subject on one side to atmospheric pressure tending to open the valve and on thc other side to pressure in the suction inlet; a restricted connection between the suction inlet and the exit of said valve; means constantly urging said valve closed; a vent valve serving to equalize the pressures on the opposite sides ot said diaphragm; means urging said vent valve closed; means actuated by the closing inove-ment ot the hist-named valve, constructed and` arranged to open said vent valve; and a retarding device serving to delay the closing movement of said vent valve.

13. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps, comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an outlet to the pump; a diaphragm operatively connected with said valve and subject on one side to atmospheric pressure tending to open said valve and on the other side to pressure in the suction inlet; means constantly urging said valve closed; a vent for connecting the suction inlet to atmosphere; a restricted auxiliary connection between the inlet and the outlet of the valve; secondary valve mechanism arranged to control said vent and said auxiliary connection and to close them in alternation; means constantly urging said secondary valve mechanism in ventclosing direction; retarding means serving to delay movement ot said secondary valve in said direction; and means operated by the first named valve and arranged to set said secondary valve in vent opening position as the first named valve closes.

141-. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps, comprising in combination a valve having a suction inlet and an outlet to the pump; a diaphragm operatively connected with said valve and subject on one side to atmospheric pressure tending to open said valve and on the other side to pressure in the suctionVv inlet; means constantly urging said valve closed; a vent tor connecting` the suction inlet to atmosphere; a restricted auxiliary connection between the inlet and the outlet of the valve; a check valve controlling said connection and arranged to close against flow toward the inlet; second ary valve mechanism arranged to control said vent and said auxiliary connection and to close them in alternation; means constantly urging said secondary valve mechanism in vent-closing direction; retard-means serving to delay movement of said secondary valve in said direction; and means operated by the first named valve and arranged to set said secondary valve in vent opening position as the rst named valvecloses.

l5. An inlet-controlling device for Vmultiple suction pumps comprising in combinathe valve and on the other side to pressure in the suction inlet; a restricted connection between the suction inlet and the enit of said valve; means constantly urging said valve closed; and a check valve arranged to prevent iiow toward the inlet through said restricted connection.

1G. An inlet-controlling device for multiple suction pumps, comprising in combination a valve body having a suction inlet and an outlet and an interposed seat; a valve of the poppet type'having astein arranged to Y guide said valve in movements toward and from said seat; a diaphragm connected with said stem and subject on one side to atmospheric pressure urging said valve away 'from 105 said seat, and subject on` the other side to pressure in said suction inlet; a spring urging said valve toward said seat; a vent through said valve stem connecting the spaces on opposite' sides ot said diaphragm; 110

a restricted port termed in said valve and connecting the inlet and outlet sides thereof; a secondary valve extending axially within` the first named valve and stem and arranged to close said vent and said restricted port in alternation, said vent being closed when said secondary valve is moved in the direction of Y closing of the first-named valve; a spring urging said secondary valve in the direction last named; and means for retarding the movement ot said valve under the action of the last-named spring.`

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification. t

ounris Roenes. 

